Nike relationship further unites U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer

FRISCO, Texas (March 24, 2014) — US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in the nation, today announced a long-term agreement between U.S. Soccer and Nike to further elevate the sport of soccer at all levels of the game.

Nike’s partnership with US Youth Soccer will guarantee the world’s leading innovator in athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories has a presence at all major US Youth Soccer events — including the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the US Youth Soccer National League, the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP), the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup and more.

"Nike and U.S. Soccer share a vision to further grow the sport in the United States and what better way than to extend our partnership to US Youth Soccer,” said Nike Soccer GM Aaron Barnett. “We look forward to further building this important relationship as we continue to deliver game changing innovation on the pitch."

US Youth Soccer consists of 55 member State Associations and more than 3 million players, 900,000 volunteers and 5,000 youth soccer clubs in the United States. Through various programs at all levels of the game US Youth Soccer impacts the American soccer landscape from earliest days of play through the collegiate, professional ant National Team ranks. As U.S. Soccer prepares for the 2014 FIFA World Cup this summer in Brazil, US Youth Soccer is also celebrating a milestone.

“This year marks the 40th anniversary of US Youth Soccer and today we write another page in our history with this partnership between U.S. Soccer and the world’s leading sports brand Nike,” said US Youth Soccer President John Sutter. “We expect this relationship to benefit our association today and well into the future.”

US Youth Soccer’s mission for 40 years has been to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America's youth through the sport of soccer. Learn more at USYouthSoccer.org.